The nature of work conducted in chemical plants is a hazardous one. There is plenty of room for errors that can lead to damage to equipment, serious injuries in your workforce, or even death. This puts the onus on managers and plant owners to ensure that chemical pumping equipment is used safely, and that hydraulic seals are up to the task of ensuring the efficiency and safety of equipment in use.

To help you reduce the risk of injury and downtime during processes, here is a little more information on the nature of these dangers:

Toxic Chemicals

Where toxic chemicals, like those used to produce certain goods and cleaning substances, or those that are used to treat materials such as metal, often have highly toxic properties.

This is especially dangerous for those who are working with them on a daily basis, over a long-period of time.

They typically come in the form of solvents. When these solvents are breathed in during handling, they can result in a range of detrimental health defects, such as the failure of the central nervous system or even cancer.

Corrosive Chemicals

Corrosive chemicals such as sulphuric acid are often used in production, processing and cleaning. When corrosive substances come into contact with skin, they result in severe burns. This puts the onus on plant managers to eliminate the chance of leakages occurring.

There is also the risk that these substances pose to the environment, damaging ecosystems and –possibly even contaminating our food-chain, making the need to ensure that they are handled safely all the more important.

Volatile Chemicals

Volatile chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid and acetone are prone to combustion and explosion, putting everyone and everything nearby at a terrible risk if they are not properly contained. These chemicals may be present in background vapour in the air of a plant (when not sealed properly). When this mixes with other chemicals or finds a source of ignition, the results can be utterly devastating.

A Pump is Only as Good as its Seal

All of these hazards can be avoided, however, by obtaining the right type of seal for your chemical pumps. This will ensure that chemicals stay where they are, safely removed from the potential dangers of their environment. Hydraulic seals are a crucial part of your equipment, and are directly responsible for the safety they offer.

If you are in the market for high quality seals for your fluid chemical pumps, contact a representative from Sealtec Hydraulics today, or visit our website for additional information.